There are a series of ways to use dual monitors on Windows 10/11. For example, you can use a dual monitor software or the default Duplicate option on your PC.

Updating your display drivers is a quick way to fix this issue

  • The dual monitor might not extend because you have not enabled the feature in the Project menu.

  • You might need to update or reinstall your display drivers to fix this issue.

  • Another effective fix is to enable the Extend option from the Project menu on your PC.

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If your second monitor shows a copy of what’s on the main screen and you’d rather have it acting more like an extension, it’s frustrating to see that the Extend function won’t work correctly in Windows 10 or 11.

A second monitor could prove to be very helpful for work and entertainment. However, in some situations, The Windows 10 dual monitor is not working. Therefore, it’s time to take the matter into your own hands.

By following these steps, you should be able to fix any issue related to your dual monitor not extending Windows 10.

Why is my dual screen not extending?

There are various reasons your monitor can duplicate but not extend. One of the obvious ones is that you might not have selected the Extend option under the project menu.

Another known cause of the issue is outdated or faulty display drivers. But, again, you can fix this quickly by updating or reinstalling the drivers.

Why am I getting no signal on the second monitor?

If the second monitor isn’t detected, you might get this error message on it. This can happen on any PC, and many reported that their laptop won’t detect the second display.

This can be a driver issue, but it can also appear if you have a bad cable. In that case, there would be no HDMI signal from your device, thus causing the issue to occur.

This can cause all sorts of issues with dual-monitor setups, including a dual-monitor setup with laptop but hopefully, this guide will be able to help you to duplicate or extend the display on Windows 10.

What can I do when my dual monitor is duplicating but not extending?

1. Make sure Extend is selected under the Project menu

  • Press the Windows key + P to bring up the Project menu.
  • Select the Extend option.
  • Now, check if the issue is fixed.

These same steps above can be used to change to duplicate if you’d change your mind at a later point.

2. Update the graphics card driver

2.1. Update drivers manually

  • Press the Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
  • Double-click on the Display adapters option to expand it.
  • Right-click on each of the drivers there and select Update driver.
  • Now, choose Search automatically for drivers.
  • Wait for the scan to complete and install the updates.

More often than not, the inability of your dual monitor to extend in Windows 10 has to do with the graphics card driver. The steps in this guided walk-through should help you update it properly.

Intel, NVIDIA, and AMD frequently release new graphics drivers that significantly improve performance, so take advantage of that. Remember that you must be logged in as an administrator to perform these steps.

2.2. Update driver automatically

As good as the Windows built-in driver updater is, it cannot be compared to a dedicated tool. And when talking of top-notch, reliable driver update software, none can match the superb DriverFix.

DriverFix is an excellent drivers updater that ensures your drivers are constantly firing. It automatically scans, updates, and fixes broken, outdated, and missing drivers on your PC.

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3. Reinstall drivers

  • Open Device Manager and double-click the Display adapters option.
  • Right-click on the drivers there and select Uninstall device.
  • Now, click the Uninstall button.
  • Restart your PC, and the driver should be installed automatically.
  • If it does not install the driver, open Device Manager again.
  • Finally, click the Scan for hardware changes icon in the top menu. This will help install the driver.

If updating the drivers doesn’t work, you need to reinstall them. Apply this on the monitor that isn’t working as intended and confirm the change.

Can’t windows automatically find and download new drivers? Follow the simple steps from this guide and fix the issue in no time.

4. Turn the screen off and on

If none of the fixes above work, you might need to turn off the two displays before connecting them. This is because some devices do not work with hot swapping with other monitors turned on.

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This can make the dual monitor feature not extend. Also, you can verify your connection cables and ports to ensure they are working and connected correctly.

You could also try using the second monitor with a different system. It would help isolate the issue with the monitor or the primary system.

Even more, if you recently upgraded to Windows 10, it also upgraded your HDMI output to 2.0. If you have an older monitor, then it’s most likely not compatible with it.

How do I set up my dual monitors to be extended?

  • Right-click on any space on your desktop and choose Display settings.
  • Scroll down to the Multiple displays.
  • Now, select Duplicate these displays or Extend these displays.

The second monitor is not detected, but the mirroring issue can be frustrating, as it can reduce your productivity considerably. However, with the fixes in this guide, you should be able to solve the problem effortlessly.

Do you want to know how to set up 3 monitors in Windows 10? Then, check our detailed guide for quick and easy ways to do it.

Also, if you have an even older OS, here’s our guide on how to fix extended desktop issues in Windows 7.

Let us know if you have any other questions or suggestions using the comments below.

  • fix monitorMulti-monitor guideswindows 10

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